Pa. college faculty approve strike authorization

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — State university faculty frustrated with the lack of progress in contract negotiations on Friday gave their union leaders the authority to call a strike.

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties said its membership displayed strong turnout and overwhelming solidarity in the vote held at 14 public campuses earlier this week.

Ballots were tallied Friday, with 95 percent favoring strike authorization. The vote empowers union chapter presidents at each school to call a strike; 10 of the 14 must approve a walkout.

“Our members are united for a fair contract that benefits all faculty and students by maintaining quality education,” union President Steve Hicks said in a statement.

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Officials at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education had no comment on the vote, but they said they remain committed to a fair settlement. The system has never had a faculty strike.

The union represents more than 6,000 faculty and coaches who have been working without a contract since June 2011. Bargaining has stalled over issues including pay for part-time instructors, health care benefits and compensation for online education.

Lisa Millhous, president of the union chapter at West Chester University, said Friday that the strike vote was necessary “because it feels like the only way to get movement (on contract talks) is to have a threat.”

“We are trying our best to solve this without a strike,” said Millhous, a communications professor. “None of us wants to strike.”

The union’s negotiations committee is planning to meet within the next 10 days to discuss a potential strike date.

However, another bargaining session is also set for Dec. 11. Universities Chancellor John Cavanaugh said he looks forward to seeing the union’s latest proposal.

In an interview Thursday, Cavanaugh disputed the contention that faculty are being asked for more concessions than other unionized employees. Negotiators have reached agreements, or tentative agreements, with the system’s other six bargaining units, he noted.

“Every contract that we’ve settled so far has changes in work rules and other aspects that gave us significant cost savings,” Cavanaugh told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, classes will continue for the 120,000 students at the state universities in Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.